Permissiveness

The term Permissiveness is used to describe a new mentality in British society that was first discernible in the late 1950s and gained momentum in the 1960s. It is associated with youth culture, sexual freedom and liberalisation of laws as well as of societal attitudes.

Permissiveness in Society

In the 1960s, the post-war generation was on the threshold of adulthood. Having grown up sheltered in an era of affluence, unaffected by the hardships of war, the youngsters felt the need to turn their backs on the social norms and moral restrictions that governed adult society and which they regarded as outdated. The arts reflected this change in attitude and contributed to the implementation of Permissiveness. Newly published literary works revolved around criticism of the Establishment while the design and fashion industry tried its hand at experimenting with long-standing norms. Traditional and elitist designs were replaced by adventurous and flamboyant creations. Clothing stores catering specifically to young people soon sprang up all over Britain and daring young women in miniskirts quickly became a common sight. The music industry, with the help of bands like the Who, the Rolling Stones and The Beatles, communicated the carefree and at the same time mildly rebellious attitude inherent to the new mentality, to an international mass audience. Initially a youth movement, the new spirit of openness soon affected people from all walks of life.

Permissiveness in Politics

The influence of Permissiveness was not only visible on a cultural but also on a political level. A number of decidedly liberal reforms and policies were implemented to overhaul traditional norms.

The Obscene Publications trial of 1960 became a symbol of the new liberal mind-set. It “is generally regarded as something of a watershed, dividing prudish ‘Victorian’ Britain from permissive, contemporary Britain” (Storry and Childs 139). The trial was the final showdown in a controversy surrounding D.H. Lawrence’s critically acclaimed novel Lady Chatterley’s Lover. The decision to make the novel available to the British public in spite of its sexually explicit content was instrumental in the shift away from censorship and towards a more liberal stance of the governing bodies.

Several steps were taken towards a modernisation of the penalty system. Gambling laws became more lenient, homosexuality and suicide were decriminalized and the death penalty was abolished in 1965. The Abortion Act of 1967 with which abortion became legal under certain conditions was an important milestone in the discussion surrounding women’s rights and freedom of choice. The invention of the pill further contributed to the sexual liberation of women and to the overall change in mentality towards a carefree enjoyment of sexuality.

Permissiveness versus Conservatism

Conservative Britons felt threatened by these developments. Opponents of Permissiveness feared that the social and political changes lead to “a general lowering of moral standards” (Pugh 298) which would eventually prove detrimental to British society. However, political scandals such as the Profumo Affair in 1961, which exposed John Profumo’s, Secretary of State for War and married at the time, sexual relationship with a young showgirl, contributed to the cracking of the façade of conservative Britain.

Regardless of people’s opinions on the matter, Permissiveness has left its mark on British politics and society. Societal debates over women’s rights, sexual liberation and tolerance have greatly influenced current thinking.

Bibliography

Pugh, Martin. State and Society. A Social and Political History of Britain 1870 – 1997. 2nd ed. London: Arnold, 1999.

Storry, Mike, and Peter Childs, eds. British Cultural Identities. 4th ed. London: Routledge, 2013.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/f/1960s-fashion-london